Clara

Two years ago, I asked my blog readers to please pray for my niece Clara. She had suddenly experienced a series of seizures that had caused her to go in and out of consciousness and had sent her to the hospital there in South Korea where they had been living. Since then, Clara has had seizures here and there and has struggled physically in some areas. The family moved to Florida last summer and has been seeking answers for Clara since then.

You may remember that this is the same family that lost baby Jack earlier this year. Life certainly has given them a lot to handle this year. Tom and Laura finally were able to get a diagnosis for Clara this past week - she has Rasmussen's Encephalitis, a rare inflammatory disease that affects one hemisphere of the brain and causes a lot of seizures, mental deterioration, etc. I am no expert on the subject so here's the link if you want to learn more about Rasmussen's Encephalitis. At any rate, Clara will have to have a brain surgery known as hemispherectomy, in which the surgeons will disconnect the side of her brain that is experiencing all the seizures. This is a risky but necessary surgery - it will probably cause partial paralysis in the opposite side of the body from the brain hemisphere they disconnect. She will also most likely experience some vision and speech problems. The surgeons are hoping that the surgery will stop or at least diminish the seizures so that eventually they can start trying to recover some of the lost brain cells. It is such a rare disease that scientists aren't even sure what causes it, let alone how to treat it or help it.

So I am asking that once again, you lift up my niece Clara in prayer. She has a lot ahead of her, and I know her family would definitely appreciate your prayers as they go through this together. They are thankful to finally have a diagnosis and at least some answers. God will answer the rest!

A Child's Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this day and thank you for my family. I pray for Grandma and Grandpa and Grammy and Pop. Pray for those peoples in Japan, cuz in case you didn't know, they had an earthquake. An earthquake is pretty bad. It's really serious. Anyway, I pray for our governor too but I don't know his name. Oh, and that I will win when I play Angry Birds again. And please let Mommy and Daddy let me stay up later tonight. and I pray Mommy makes something different for dinner tomorrow. I love you!

In Jesus' name, Amen

- the Drama Queen

Identity

To two very special people in my life, I am "Daughter." For many years I fulfilled this role by doing my best to obey them and spending time with them. Now, I still am "Daughter", although the role has changed to long phone calls and pictures of grandkids.

To four more people scattered across this nation (and Canada!), I am "Sister." I tackled this identity with great gusto, balancing being a fun playmate and being the most annoying pest ever as well as I could. I suppose not much has changed in that arena. I still am "Sister" through phone calls, Facebook messages, and text messages.

To one amazing man, I am "Wife." I took on this position almost seven years ago, not realizing what an incredible blessing and crazy journey being a wife would be. As long as God gives us life, I will be my Nerd's wife and partner in crime.

To three adorable children, I am "Mom." Daily, I change diapers, wipe noses, clean up spilled juice, teach ABC's, buckle car seats, potty train, entertain, coax to nap, and encourage the littles. I also have the great privilege of sharing God with them every day, through verses, songs, and prayer. I sense this role changing all the time as the kids grow. I will always be glad to hold the title "Mom."

To many wonderful people, I am "Friend." I take this position seriously and rejoice in each friendship with which God has blessed me. I am thankful for the long chats, on-the-spot babysitting, care, and prayers that this title has afforded me.

To thirteen crazy junior-highers, I am "Teacher." To my family, I am "Housekeeper." I could continue to list the many titles or identities that I possess. Each are a part of my identity, but one title completely sums up my entire identity:

I am "His."

He is my source of life. Acts 17:28 tells me that I live and move and have my being in Him.

He knows me. He understands my frailty (Psalm 103:14) and knows what it's like to be tempted. (Hebrews 4:15).

He cares about me. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7

He represents me. He "ever liveth to make intercession"(Hebrews 7:25) before my Heavenly Father, and he defends me against Satan. (Revelation 12:10).

Because I am His, I am His heir. He is preparing a place for me right now (John 14:2), and I will get to experience eternal fellowship with Him - "so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:17)

Knowing your identity is what controls your life. Live your life solely as a mom, and other relationships will suffer. Live your life as self, and chaos and destruction are sure to follow.

But, when I get to live my life being His, it colors every other part of my identity and helps me be a better wife, a more patient mom, a more compassionate friend, and so on. This is what it means to belong to Christ. No identity crisis here!

I Will Do It

John 14:12-14

" Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Clearly God wants us to pray specifically. I have been thinking lately that it might be showing a lack of faith when I pray "whatever your will is, Lord" or when I say "bless us today." It's so general - of course God is going to do those things. But Christ himself, knowing that He had to die to save the world, still prayed that God would remove that cup from him.

So here's my very specific prayer request. :) We need to move soon, and would like to rent a three-bedroom house with a fenced-in yard in Oregon City for $1000 a month or less. We want to be much closer to our church, especially as the Drama Queen will be starting school next year. The Drama Queen also needs her own bedroom - sharing with her two brothers really isn't an option any more. The yard is needed for sanity purposes.

God has already answered our prayer in getting someone to rent our condo in which we currently reside. Now we ask Him in faith to provide this next step for us. Please pray with us that the right opportunity will come quickly.

And, I have to admit, I am very excited to get out of this "crackerbox" we call home...

The Rain Comes

It has been so dark and rainy lately here in Oregon:

But you don't have to live in Oregon for it to be cold and rainy in December.

It could be that something has happened that has made life miserably cold and rainy for you.

It's that steady, constant, bone-chilling rain that continues to attack your soul.

When it comes, it's hard to avoid it.

Searching for sunshine or even any ray of hope seems like too much effort.

Friends try to help, but when they leave, the rain is still there.

But you don't have to look far or hard to find the light. Here in chilly wet Oregon, I simply step out on my porch and see this:

Small lights they may be, but still their warm glow takes over the whole photograph.

I am thinking of my best friend today. The dismal cold rain has hit her hard, almost as hard as the driver that hit her mom on Saturday. The rain pours as my friend sits at her mom's bedside, watching an assortment of machines sustain her life. It looks so very dark, and the options presented by the doctors are heart-breaking.

And yet there is light. The "Light of the World" is standing by her side. Our prayers have put Him there, have wrapped His loving arms around her.

Won't you join me in making that light brighter and that faint hope stronger? Please take a moment and lift up Rachel and her family in your prayers today.

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." James 5:15

He Cares About the "Little" Things

A few days ago, I was once again tackling the dishes that had started to pile up in the kitchen sink. The children were playing somewhat harmoniously in the living room with a "train" made of several chairs pushed together and "landscape" adorned with various afghans and quilts.

As I washed the endless stack of sippy cups, I heard a loud thump and a pause before the Spud started wailing. I could tell by his cry that it was nothing serious - he just needed a little TLC. I called out to my daughter, "What happened to your little brother?"
"Oh, he just fell off the train," she answered nonchalantly.
"Well, could you please give him a hug and tell him it's okay, sweetie?" I asked her.
"Oh, okay, momma," she said with a sigh.

Moments later, I heard her tell the Spud that he would be okay.
"Let's pray, okay?" she reassured him. "Jesus always makes everything better. Dear Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for this food. Thank you for my family. And help him not hurt anymore. In Jesus' name, Amen. Okay, you're fine now." And she ran off.

I turned the faucet off and went in to give my Drama Queen a hug. "Thanks, honey, for doing that," I said. "It's always good to pray and ask Jesus to help us." Inwardly, I was thrilled. I have been trying hard to direct my kids to Jesus whenever they are going through something tough - whether it be a skinned knee, monsters under the bed, or disappointment at a missed privilege. Now, instead of me saying, "Let's pray about it," my daughter was initiating contact with the only One who can heal our pain.

It cracked me up during my migraines when the Drama Queen told me she was praying for my head to feel better. "Thank you, honey, " I said. "Well, are you feeling better right now? " she asked. "Cuz I prayed for you, so your head shouldn't be hurting anymore." :) Maybe if more of us had this strong child-like faith, God would heal our hurts a little faster...